中国经典 》 紅樓夢 A Dream of Red Mansions 》
第十回 金寡婦貪利權受辱 張太醫論病細窮源 CHAPTER X.
曹雪芹 Cao Xueqin
高鶚 Gao E
CHAPTER X.
話說金榮因人多勢衆，又兼賈瑞勒令，賠了不是，給秦鐘磕了頭，寶玉方纔不吵鬧了。大傢散了學，金榮回到傢中，越想越氣，說：“秦鐘不過是賈蓉的小舅子，又不是賈傢的子孫，附學讀書，也不過和我一樣。他因仗着寶玉和他好，他就目中無人。他既是這樣，就該行些正經事，人也沒的說。他素日又和寶玉鬼鬼祟祟的，衹當人都是瞎子，看不見。今日他又去勾搭人，偏偏的撞在我眼睛裏。就是鬧出事來，我還怕什麽不成？”
他母親鬍氏聽見他咕咕嘟嘟的說，因問道：“你又要爭什麽閑氣？好容易我望你姑媽說了，你姑媽千方百計的纔嚮他們西府裏的璉二奶奶跟前說了，你纔得了這個念書的地方。若不是仗着人傢，咱們傢裏還有力量請的起先生？況且人傢學裏，茶也是現成的，飯也是現成的。你這二年在那裏念書，傢裏也省好大的嚼用呢。省出來的，你又愛穿件鮮明衣服。再者，不是因你在那裏念書，你就認得什麽薛大爺了？那薛大爺一年不給不給，這二年也幫了咱們有七八十兩銀子。你如今要鬧出了這個學房，再要找這麽個地方，我告訴你說罷，比登天還難呢！你給我老老實實的頑一會子睡你的覺去，好多着呢。”於是金榮忍氣吞聲，不多一時他自去睡了。次日仍舊上學去了。不在話下。
且說他姑娘，原聘給的是賈傢玉字輩的嫡派，名喚賈璜。但其族人那裏皆能象寧榮二府的富勢，原不用細說。這賈璜夫妻守着些小的産業，又時常到寧榮二府裏去請請安，又會奉承鳳姐兒並尤氏，所以鳳姐兒尤氏也時常資助資助他，方能如此度日。今日正遇天氣晴明，又值傢中無事，遂帶了一個婆子，坐上車，來傢裏走走，瞧瞧寡嫂並侄兒。
閑話之間，金榮的母親偏提起昨日賈傢學房裏的那事，從頭至尾，一五一十都嚮他小姑子說了。這璜大奶奶不聽則已，聽了，一時怒從心上起，說道：“這秦鐘小崽子是賈門的親戚，難道榮兒不是賈門的親戚？人都別忒勢利了，況且都作的是什麽有臉的好事！就是寶玉，也犯不上嚮着他到這個樣。等我去到東府瞧瞧我們珍大奶奶，再嚮秦鐘他姐姐說說，叫他評評這個理。”這金榮的母親聽了這話，急的了不得，忙說道：“這都是我的嘴快，告訴了姑奶奶了，求姑奶奶別去，別管他們誰是誰非。倘或鬧起來，怎麽在那裏站得住。若是站不住，傢裏不但不能請先生，反倒在他身上添出許多嚼用來呢。”璜大奶奶聽了，說道：“那裏管得許多，你等我說了，看是怎麽樣！"也不容他嫂子勸，一面叫老婆子瞧了車，就坐上往寧府裏來。
到了寧府，進了車門，到了東邊小角門前下了車，進去見了賈珍之妻尤氏。也未敢氣高，殷殷勤勤敘過寒溫，說了些閑話，方問道：“今日怎麽沒見蓉大奶奶？"尤氏說道：“他這些日子不知怎麽着，經期有兩個多月沒來。叫大夫瞧了，又說並不是喜。那兩日，到了下半天就懶待動，話也懶待說，眼神也發眩。我說他：‘你且不必拘禮，早晚不必照例上來，你就好生養養罷。就是有親戚一傢兒來，有我呢。就有長輩們怪你，等我替你告訴。’連蓉哥我都囑咐了，我說：‘你不許纍ц他，不許招他生氣，叫他靜靜的養養就好了。他要想什麽吃，衹管到我這裏取來。倘或我這裏沒有，衹管望你璉二嬸子那裏要去。倘或他有個好和歹，你再要娶這麽一個媳婦，這麽個模樣兒，這麽個性情的人兒，打着燈籠也沒地方找去。’他這為人行事，那個親戚，那個一傢的長輩不喜歡他？所以我這兩日好不煩心，焦的我了不得。偏偏今日早晨他兄弟來瞧他，誰知那小孩子傢不知好歹，看見他姐姐身上不大爽快，就有事也不當告訴他，別說是這麽一點子小事，就是你受了一萬分的委麯，也不該嚮他說纔是。誰知他們昨兒學房裏打架，不知是那裏附學來的一個人欺侮了他了。裏頭還有些不幹不淨的話，都告訴了他姐姐。嬸子，你是知道那媳婦的：雖則見了人有說有笑，會行事兒，他可心細，心又重，不拘聽見個什麽話兒，都要度量個三日五夜纔罷。這病就是打這個秉性上頭思慮出來的。今兒聽見有人欺負了他兄弟，又是惱，又是氣。惱的是那群混帳狐朋狗友的扯是搬非，調三惑四的那些人，氣的是他兄弟不學好，不上心念書，以致如此學裏吵鬧。他聽了這事，今日索性連早飯也沒吃。我聽見了，我方到他那邊安慰了他一會子，又勸解了他兄弟一會子。我叫他兄弟到那邊府裏找寶玉去了，我纔看着他吃了半盞燕窩湯，我纔過來了。嬸子，你說我心焦不心焦？況且如今又沒個好大夫，我想到他這病上，我心裏倒象針紮似的。你們知道有什麽好大夫沒有？”
金氏聽了這半日話，把方纔在他嫂子傢的那一團要嚮秦氏理論的盛氣，早嚇的都丟在爪窪國去了。聽見尤氏問他有知道好大夫的話，連忙答道：“我們這麽聽着，實在也沒見人說有個好大夫。如今聽起大奶奶這個來，定不得還是喜呢。嫂子倒別教人混治。倘或認錯了，這可是了不得的。”尤氏道：“可不是呢。”正是說話間，賈珍從外進來，見了金氏，便嚮尤氏問道：“這不是璜大奶奶麽？"金氏嚮前給賈珍請了安。賈珍嚮尤氏說道：“讓這大妹妹吃了飯去。”賈珍說着話，就過那屋裏去了。金氏此來，原要嚮秦氏說說秦鐘欺負了他侄兒的事，聽見秦氏有病，不但不能說，亦且不敢提了。況且賈珍尤氏又待的很好，反轉怒為喜，又說了一會子話兒，方傢去了。
金氏去後，賈珍方過來坐下，問尤氏道：“今日他來，有什麽說的事情麽？"尤氏答道：“倒沒說什麽。一進來的時候，臉上倒象有些着了惱的氣色似的，及說了半天話，又提起媳婦這病，他倒漸漸的氣色平定了。你又叫讓他吃飯，他聽見媳婦這麽病，也不好意思衹管坐着，又說了幾句閑話兒就去了，倒沒求什麽事。如今且說媳婦這病，你到那裏尋一個好大夫來與他瞧瞧要緊，可別耽誤了。現今咱們傢走的這群大夫，那裏要得，一個個都是聽着人的口氣兒，人怎麽說，他也添幾句文話兒說一遍。可倒殷勤的很，三四個人一日輪流着倒有四五遍來看脈。他們大傢商量着立個方子，吃了也不見效，倒弄得一日換四五遍衣裳，坐起來見大夫，其實於病人無益。”賈珍說道：“可是。這孩子也糊塗，何必脫脫換換的，倘再着了涼，更添一層病，那還了得。衣裳任憑是什麽好的，可又值什麽，孩子的身子要緊，就是一天穿一套新的，也不值什麽。我正進來要告訴你：方纔馮紫英來看我，他見我有些抑鬱之色，問我是怎麽了。我纔告訴他說，媳婦忽然身子有好大的不爽快，因為不得個好太醫，斷不透是喜是病，又不知有妨礙無妨礙，所以我這兩日心裏着實着急。馮紫英因說起他有一個幼時從學的先生，姓張名友士，學問最淵博的，更兼醫理極深，且能斷人的生死。今年是上京給他兒子來捐官，現在他傢住着呢。這麽看來，竟是合該媳婦的病在他手裏除災亦未可知。我即刻差人拿我的名帖請去了。今日倘或天晚了不能來，明日想必一定來。況且馮紫英又即刻回傢親自去求他，務必叫他來瞧瞧。等這個張先生來瞧了再說罷。”
尤氏聽了，心中甚喜，因說道：“後日是太爺的壽日，到底怎麽辦？"賈珍說道：“我方纔到了太爺那裏去請安，兼請太爺來傢來受一受一傢子的禮。太爺因說道：‘我是清淨慣了的，我不願意往你們那是非場中去鬧去。你們必定說是我的生日，要叫我去受衆人些頭，莫過你把我從前註的《陰騭文》給我令人好好的寫出來刻了，比叫我無故受衆人的頭還強百倍呢。倘或後日這兩日一傢子要來，你就在傢裏好好的款待他們就是了。也不必給我送什麽東西來，連你後日也不必來，你要心中不安，你今日就給我磕了頭去。倘或後日你要來，又跟隨多少人來鬧我，我必和你不依。’如此說了又說，後日我是再不敢去的了。且叫來升來，吩咐他預備兩日的筵席。”尤氏因叫人叫了賈蓉來：“吩咐來升照舊例預備兩日的筵席，要豐豐富富的。你再親自到西府裏去請老太太，大太太，二太太和你璉二嬸子來逛逛。你父親今日又聽見一個好大夫，業已打發人請去了，想必明日必來。你可將他這些日子的病癥細細的告訴他。”
賈蓉一一的答應着出去了。正遇着方纔去馮紫英傢請那先生的小子回來了，因回道：“奴才方纔到了馮大爺傢，拿了老爺的名帖請那先生去。那先生說道：‘方纔這裏大爺也嚮我說了。但是今日拜了一天的客，纔回到傢，此時精神實在不能支持，就是去到府上也不能看脈。’他說等調息一夜，明日務必到府。他又說，他‘醫學淺薄，本不敢當此重薦，因我們馮大爺和府上的大人既已如此說了，又不得不去，你先替我回明大人就是了。大人的名帖實不敢當。’仍叫奴才拿回來了。哥兒替奴才回一聲兒罷。”賈蓉轉身復進去，回了賈珍尤氏的話，方出來叫了來升來，吩咐他預備兩日的筵席的話。來升聽畢，自去照例料理。不在話下。
且說次日午間，人回道：“請的那張先生來了。”賈珍遂延入大廳坐下。茶畢，方開言道：“昨承馮大爺示知老先生人品學問，又兼深通醫學，小弟不勝欽仰之至。”張先生道：“晚生粗鄙下士，本知見淺陋，昨因馮大爺示知，大人傢第謙恭下士，又承呼喚，敢不奉命。但毫無實學，倍增顔汗。”賈珍道：“先生何必過謙。就請先生進去看看兒婦，仰仗高明，以釋下懷。”於是，賈蓉同了進去。到了賈蓉居室，見了秦氏，嚮賈蓉說道：“這就是尊夫人了？"賈蓉道：“正是。請先生坐下，讓我把賤內的病說一說再看脈如何？"那先生道：“依小弟的意思，竟先看過脈再說的為是。我是初造尊府的，本也不曉得什麽，但是我們馮大爺務必叫小弟過來看看，小弟所以不得不來。如今看了脈息，看小弟說的是不是，再將這些日子的病勢講一講，大傢斟酌一個方兒，可用不可用，那時大爺再定奪。”賈蓉道：“先生實在高明，如今恨相見之晚。就請先生看一看脈息，可治不可治，以便使傢父母放心。”於是傢下媳婦們捧過大迎枕來，一面給秦氏拉着袖口，露出脈來。先生方伸手按在右手脈上，調息了至數，寧神細診了有半刻的工夫，方換過左手，亦復如是。診畢脈息，說道：“我們外邊坐罷。”
賈蓉於是同先生到外間房裏床上坐下，一個婆子端了茶來。賈蓉道：“先生請茶。”於是陪先生吃了茶，遂問道：“先生看這脈息，還治得治不得？"先生道：“看得尊夫人這脈息：左寸沉數，左關沉伏，右寸細而無力，右關需而無神。其左寸沉數者，乃心氣虛而生火，左關沉伏者，乃肝傢氣滯血虧。右寸細而無力者，乃肺經氣分太虛，右關需而無神者，乃脾土被肝木剋製。心氣虛而生火者，應現經期不調，夜間不寐。肝傢血虧氣滯者，必然肋下疼脹，月信過期，心中發熱。肺經氣分太虛者，頭目不時眩暈，寅卯間必然自汗，如坐舟中。脾土被肝木剋製者，必然不思飲食，精神倦怠，四肢酸軟。據我看這脈息，應當有這些癥候纔對。或以這個脈為喜脈，則小弟不敢從其教也。”旁邊一個貼身伏侍的婆子道：“何嘗不是這樣呢。真正先生說的如神，倒不用我們告訴了。如今我們傢裏現有好幾位太醫老爺瞧着呢，都不能的當真切的這麽說。有一位說是喜，有一位說是病，這位說不相幹，那位說怕鼕至，總沒有個準話兒。求老爺明白指示指示。”
那先生笑道：“大奶奶這個癥候，可是那衆位耽擱了。要在初次行經的日期就用藥治起來，不但斷無今日之患，而且此時已全愈了。如今既是把病耽誤到這個地位，也是應有此災。依我看來，這病尚有三分治得。吃了我的藥看，若是夜裏睡的着覺，那時又添了二分拿手了。據我看這脈息：大奶奶是個心性高強聰明不過的人，聰明忒過，則不如意事常有，不如意事常有，則思慮太過。此病是憂慮傷脾，肝木忒旺，經血所以不能按時而至。大奶奶從前的行經的日子問一問，斷不是常縮，必是常長的。是不是？"這婆子答道：“可不是，從沒有縮過，或是長兩日三日，以至十日都長過。”先生聽了道：“妙啊！這就是病源了。從前若能夠以養心調經之藥服之，何至於此。這如今明顯出一個水虧木旺的癥候來。待用藥看看。”於是寫了方子，遞與賈蓉，上寫的是：
益氣養榮補脾和肝湯
人參二錢白术二錢土炒雲苓三錢熟地四錢
歸身二錢酒洗白芍二錢炒川芎錢半黃芪三錢
香附米二錢製醋柴鬍八分懷山藥二錢炒真阿膠二錢蛤粉炒
延鬍索錢半酒炒炙甘草八分
引用建蓮子七粒去心紅棗二枚賈蓉看了，說：“高明的很。還要請教先生，這病與性命終久有妨無妨？"先生笑道：“大爺是最高明的人。人病到這個地位，非一朝一夕的癥候，吃了這藥也要看醫緣了。依小弟看來，今年一鼕是不相幹的。總是過了春分，就可望全愈了。”賈蓉也是個聰明人，也不往下細問了。於是賈蓉送了先生去了，方將這藥方子並脈案都給賈珍看了，說的話也都回了賈珍並尤氏了。尤氏嚮賈珍說道：“從來大夫不象他說的這麽痛快，想必用的藥也不錯。”賈珍道：“人傢原不是混飯吃久慣行醫的人。因為馮紫英我們好，他好容易求了他來了。既有這個人，媳婦的病或者就能好了。他那方子上有人參，就用前日買的那一斤好的罷。”賈蓉聽畢話，方出來叫人打藥去煎給秦氏吃。不知秦氏服了此藥病勢如何，下回分解。
Widow Chin, prompted by a desire to reap advantage, puts up temporarily with an insult. Dr. Chang in discussing Mrs. Chin's illness minutely exhausts its origin.
We will now resume our story. As the persons against Chin Jung were so many and their pressure so great, and as, what was more, Chia Jui urged him to make amends, he had to knock his head on the ground before Ch'in Chung. Pao-yue then gave up his clamorous remonstrances and the whole crowd dispersed from school.
Chin Jung himself returned home all alone, but the more he pondered on the occurrence, the more incensed he felt. "Ch'in Chung," he argued, "is simply Chia Jung's young brother-in-law, and is no son or grandson of the Chia family, and he too joins the class and prosecutes his studies on no other footing than that of mine; but it's because he relies upon Pao-yue's friendship for him that he has no eye for any one. This being the case, he should be somewhat proper in his behaviour, and there would be then not a word to say about it! He has besides all along been very mystical with Pao-yue, imagining that we are all blind, and have no eyes to see what's up! Here he goes again to-day and mixes with people in illicit intrigues; and it's all because they happened to obtrude themselves before my very eyes that this rumpus has broken out; but of what need I fear?"
His mother, nee Hu, hearing him mutter; "Why meddle again," she explained, "in things that don't concern you? I had endless trouble in getting to speak to your paternal aunt; and your aunt had, on the other hand, a thousand and one ways and means to devise, before she could appeal to lady Secunda, of the Western mansion; and then only it was that you got this place to study in. Had we not others to depend upon for your studies, would we have in our house the means sufficient to engage a teacher? Besides, in other people's school, tea and eatables are all ready and found; and these two years that you've been there for your lessons, we've likewise effected at home a great saving in what would otherwise have been necessary for your eating and use. Something has been, it's true, economised; but you have further a liking for spick and span clothes. Besides, it's only through your being there to study, that you've come to know Mr. Hsueeh! that Mr. Hsueeh, who has even in one year given us so much pecuniary assistance as seventy and eighty taels! And now you would go and raise a row in this school-room! why, if we were bent upon finding such another place, I tell you plainly, and once for all, that we would find it more difficult than if we tried to scale the heavens! Now do quietly play for a while, and then go to sleep, and you'll be ever so much better for it then."
Chin Jung thereupon stifled his anger and held his tongue; and, after a short while, he in fact went to sleep of his own accord.
The next day he again went to school, and no further comment need be made about it; but we will go on to explain that a young lady related to her had at one time been given in marriage to a descendant (of the eldest branch) of the Chia family, (whose names were written) with the jade radical, Chia Huang by name; but how could the whole number of members of the clan equal in affluence and power the two mansions of Ning and Jung? This fact goes, as a matter of course, without saying. The Chia Huang couple enjoyed some small income; but they also went, on frequent occasions, to the mansions of Ning and Jung to pay their respects; and they knew likewise so well how to adulate lady Feng and Mrs. Yu, that lady Feng and Mrs. Yu would often grant them that assistance and support which afforded them the means of meeting their daily expenses.
It just occurred on this occasion that the weather was clear and fine, and that there happened, on the other hand, to be nothing to attend to at home, so forthwith taking along with her a matron, (Mrs. Chia Huang) got into a carriage and came over to see widow Chin and her nephew. While engaged in a chat, Chin Jung's mother accidentally broached the subject of the affair, which had transpired in the school-room of the Chia mansion on the previous day, and she gave, for the benefit of her young sister-in-law, a detailed account of the whole occurrence from beginning to end.
This Mrs. Huang would not have had her temper ruffled had she not come to hear what had happened; but having heard about it, anger sprung from the very depths of her heart. "This fellow, Ch'in Chung," she exclaimed, "is a relative of the Chia family, but is it likely that Jung Erh isn't, in like manner, a relative of the Chia family; and when relatives are many, there's no need to put on airs! Besides, does his conduct consist, for the most part, of anything that would make one get any face? In fact, Pao-yue himself shouldn't do injury to himself by condescending to look at him. But, as things have come to this pass, give me time and I'll go to the Eastern mansion and see our lady Chen and then have a chat with Ch'in Chung's sister, and ask her to decide who's right and who's wrong!"
Chin Jung's mother upon hearing these words was terribly distressed. "It's all through my hasty tongue," she observed with vehemence, "that I've told you all, sister-in-law: but please, sister, give up at once the idea of going over to say anything about it! Don't trouble yourself as to who is in the right, and who is in the wrong; for were any unpleasantness to come out of it, how could we here stand on our legs? and were we not to stand on our legs, not only would we never be able to engage a tutor, but the result will be, on the contrary, that for his own person will be superadded many an expense for eatables and necessaries."
"What do I care about how many?" replied Mrs. Huang; "wait till I've spoken about it, and we'll see what will be the result." Nor would she accede to her sister-in-law's entreaties, but bidding, at the same time, the matron look after the carriage, she got into it, and came over to the Ning Mansion.
On her arrival at the Ning Mansion, she entered by the eastern side gate, and dismounting from the carriage, she went in to call on Mrs. Yu, the spouse of Chia Chen, with whom she had not the courage to put on any high airs; but gently and quietly she made inquiries after her health, and after passing some irrelevant remarks, she ascertained: "How is it I don't see lady Jung to-day?"
"I don't know," replied Mrs. Yu, "what's the matter with her these last few days; but she hasn't been herself for two months and more; and the doctor who was asked to see her declares that it is nothing connected with any happy event. A couple of days back, she felt, as soon as the afternoon came, both to move, and both even to utter a word; while the brightness of her eyes was all dimmed; and I told her, 'You needn't stick to etiquette, for there's no use for you to come in the forenoon and evening, as required by conventionalities; but what you must do is, to look after your own health. Should any relative come over, there's also myself to receive them; and should any of the senior generation think your absence strange, I'll explain things for you, if you'll let me.'
"I also advised brother Jung on the subject: 'You shouldn't,' I said, 'allow any one to trouble her; nor let her be put out of temper, but let her quietly attend to her health, and she'll get all right. Should she fancy anything to eat, just come over here and fetch it; for, in the event of anything happening to her, were you to try and find another such a wife to wed, with such a face and such a disposition, why, I fear, were you even to seek with a lantern in hand, there would really be no place where you could discover her. And with such a temperament and deportment as hers, which of our relatives and which of our elders don't love her?' That's why my heart has been very distressed these two days! As luck would have it early this morning her brother turned up to see her, but who would have fancied him to be such a child, and so ignorant of what is proper and not proper to do? He saw well enough that his sister was not well; and what's more all these matters shouldn't have been recounted to her; for even supposing he had received the gravest offences imaginable, it behoved him anyhow not to have broached the subject to her! Yesterday, one would scarcely believe it, a fight occurred in the school-room, and some pupil or other who attends that class, somehow insulted him; besides, in this business, there were a good many indecent and improper utterances, but all these he went and told his sister! Now, sister-in-law, you are well aware that though (our son Jung's) wife talks and laughs when she sees people, that she is nevertheless imaginative and withal too sensitive, so that no matter what she hears, she's for the most part bound to brood over it for three days and five nights, before she loses sight of it, and it's from this excessive sensitiveness that this complaint of hers arises. Today, when she heard that some one had insulted her brother, she felt both vexed and angry; vexed that those fox-like, cur-like friends of his had moved right and wrong, and intrigued with this one and deluded that one; angry that her brother had, by not learning anything profitable, and not having his mind set upon study, been the means of bringing about a row at school; and on account of this affair, she was so upset that she did not even have her early meal. I went over a short while back and consoled her for a time, and likewise gave her brother a few words of advice; and after having packed off that brother of hers to the mansion on the other side, in search of Pao-yue, and having stood by and seen her have half a bowl of birds' nests soup, I at length came over. Now, sister-in-law, tell me, is my heart sore or not? Besides, as there's nowadays no good doctor, the mere thought of her complaint makes my heart feel as if it were actually pricked with needles! But do you and yours, perchance, know of any good practitioner?"
Mrs. Chin had, while listening to these words, been, at an early period, so filled with concern that she cast away to distant lands the reckless rage she had been in recently while at her sister-in-law's house, when she had determined to go and discuss matters over with Mrs. Ch'in. Upon hearing Mrs. Yu inquire of her about a good doctor, she lost no time in saying by way of reply: "Neither have we heard of any one speak of a good doctor; but from the account I've just heard of Mrs. Ch'in's illness, it may still, there's no saying, be some felicitous ailment; so, sister-in-law, don't let any one treat her recklessly, for were she to be treated for the wrong thing, the result may be dreadful!"
"Quite so!" replied Mrs. Yu.
But while they were talking, Chia Chen came in from out of doors, and upon catching sight of Mrs. Chin; "Isn't this Mrs. Huang?" he inquired of Mrs. Yu; whereupon Mrs. Chin came forward and paid her respects to Chia Chen.
"Invite this lady to have her repast here before she goes," observed Chia Chen to Mrs. Yu; and as he uttered these words he forthwith walked into the room on the off side.
The object of Mrs. Chin's present visit had originally been to talk to Mrs. Ch'in about the insult which her brother had received from the hands of Ch'in Chung, but when she heard that Mrs. Ch'in was ill, she did not have the courage to even so much as make mention of the object of her errand. Besides, as Chia Chen and Mrs. Yu had given her a most cordial reception, her resentment was transformed into pleasure, so that after a while spent in a further chat about one thing and another, she at length returned to her home.
It was only after the departure of Mrs. Chin that Chia Chen came over and took a seat. "What did she have to say for herself during this visit to-day?" he asked of Mrs. Yu.
"She said nothing much," replied Mrs. Yu. "When she first entered the room, her face bore somewhat of an angry look, but, after a lengthy chat and as soon as mention of our son's wife's illness was made, this angered look after all gradually abated. You also asked me to keep her for the repast, but, having heard that our son's wife was so ill she could not very well stay, so that all she did was to sit down, and after making a few more irrelevant remarks, she took her departure. But she had no request to make. To return however now to the illness of Jung's wife, it's urgent that you should find somewhere a good doctor to diagnose it for her; and whatever you do, you should lose no time. The whole body of doctors who at present go in and out of our household, are they worth having? Each one of them listens to what the patient has to say of the ailment, and then, adding a string of flowery sentences, out he comes with a long rigmarole; but they are exceedingly diligent in paying us visits; and in one day, three or four of them are here at least four and five times in rotation! They come and feel her pulse, they hold consultation together, and write their prescriptions, but, though she has taken their medicines, she has seen no improvement; on the contrary, she's compelled to change her clothes three and five times each day, and to sit up to see the doctor; a thing which, in fact, does the patient no good."
"This child too is somewhat simple," observed Chia Chen; "for what need has she to be taking off her clothes, and changing them for others? And were she again to catch a chill, she would add something more to her illness; and won't it be dreadful! The clothes may be no matter how fine, but what is their worth, after all? The health of our child is what is important to look to! and were she even to wear out a suit of new clothes a-day, what would that too amount to? I was about to tell you that a short while back, Feng Tzu-ying came to see me, and, perceiving that I had somewhat of a worried look, he asked me what was up; and I told him that our son's wife was not well at all, that as we couldn't get any good doctor, we couldn't determine with any certainty, whether she was in an interesting condition, or whether she was suffering from some disease; that as we could neither tell whether there was any danger or not, my heart was, for this reason, really very much distressed. Feng Tzu-ying then explained that he knew a young doctor who had made a study of his profession, Chang by surname, and Yu-shih by name, whose learning was profound to a degree; who was besides most proficient in the principles of medicine, and had the knack of discriminating whether a patient would live or die; that this year he had come to the capital to purchase an official rank for his son, and that he was now living with him in his house. In view of these circumstances, not knowing but that if, perchance, the case of our daughter-in-law were placed in his hands, he couldn't avert the danger, I readily despatched a servant, with a card of mine, to invite him to come; but the hour to-day being rather late, he probably won't be round, but I believe he's sure to be here to-morrow. Besides, Feng-Tzu-ying was also on his return home, to personally entreat him on my behalf, so that he's bound, when he has asked him, to come and see her. Let's therefore wait till Dr. Chang has been here and seen her, when we can talk matters over!"
Mrs. Yu was very much cheered when she heard what was said. "The day after to-morrow," she felt obliged to add, "is again our senior's, Mr. Chia Ching's birthday, and how are we to celebrate it after all?"
"I've just been over to our Senior's and paid my respects," replied Chia Chen, "and further invited the old gentleman to come home, and receive the congratulations of the whole family.
"'I'm accustomed,' our Senior explained, 'to peace and quiet, and have no wish to go over to that worldly place of yours; for you people are certain to have published that it's my birthday, and to entertain the design to ask me to go round to receive the bows of the whole lot of you. But won't it be better if you were to give the "Record of Meritorious Acts," which I annotated some time ago, to some one to copy out clean for me, and have it printed? Compared with asking me to come, and uselessly receive the obeisances of you all, this will be yea even a hundred times more profitable! In the event of the whole family wishing to pay me a visit on any of the two days, to-morrow or the day after to-morrow, if you were to stay at home and entertain them in proper style, that will be all that is wanted; nor will there be any need to send me anything! Even you needn't come two days from this; and should you not feel contented at heart, well, you had better bow your head before me to-day before you go. But if you do come again the day after to-morrow, with a lot of people to disturb me, I shall certainly be angry with you.' After what he said, I will not venture to go and see him two days hence; but you had better send for Lai Sheng, and bid him get ready a banquet to continue for a couple of days."
Mrs. Yu, having asked Chia Jung to come round, told him to direct Lai Sheng to make the usual necessary preparations for a banquet to last for a couple of days, with due regard to a profuse and sumptuous style.
"You go by-and-by," (she advised him), "in person to the Western Mansion and invite dowager lady Chia, mesdames Hsing and Wang, and your sister-in-law Secunda lady Lien to come over for a stroll. Your father has also heard of a good doctor, and having already sent some one to ask him round, I think that by to-morrow he's sure to come; and you had better tell him, in a minute manner, the serious symptoms of her ailment during these few days."
Chia Jung having signified his obedience to each of her recommendations, and taken his leave, was just in time to meet the youth coming back from Feng Tzu-ying's house, whither he had gone a short while back to invite the doctor round.
"Your slave," he consequently reported, "has just been with a card of master's to Mr. Feng's house and asked the doctor to come. 'The gentleman here,' replied the doctor, 'has just told me about it; but to-day, I've had to call on people the whole day, and I've only this moment come home; and I feel now my strength (so worn out), that I couldn't really stand any exertion. In fact were I even to get as far as the mansion, I shouldn't be in a fit state to diagnose the pulses! I must therefore have a night's rest, but, to-morrow for certain, I shall come to the mansion. My medical knowledge,' he went on to observe, 'is very shallow, and I don't deserve the honour of such eminent recommendation; but as Mr. Feng has already thus spoken of me in your mansion, I can't but present myself. It will be all right if in anticipation you deliver this message for me to your honourable master; but as for your worthy master's card, I cannot really presume to keep it.' It was again at his instance that I've brought it back; but, Sir, please mention this result for me (to master)."
Chia Jung turned back again, and entering the house delivered the message to Chia Chen and Mrs. Yu; whereupon he walked out, and, calling Lai Sheng before him, he transmitted to him the orders to prepare the banquet for a couple of days.
After Lai Sheng had listened to the directions, he went off, of course, to get ready the customary preparations; but upon these we shall not dilate, but confine ourselves to the next day.
At noon, a servant on duty at the gate announced that the Doctor Chang, who had been sent for, had come, and Chia Chen conducted him along the Court into the large reception Hall, where they sat down; and after they had partaken of tea, he broached the subject.
"Yesterday," he explained, "the estimable Mr. Feng did me the honour to speak to me of your character and proficiency, venerable doctor, as well as of your thorough knowledge of medicine, and I, your mean brother, was filled with an immeasurable sense of admiration!"
"Your Junior," remonstrated Dr. Chang, "is a coarse, despicable and mean scholar and my knowledge is shallow and vile! but as worthy Mr. Feng did me the honour yesterday of telling me that your family, sir, had condescended to look upon me, a low scholar, and to favour me too with an invitation, could I presume not to obey your commands? But as I cannot boast of the least particle of real learning, I feel overburdened with shame!"
"Why need you be so modest?" observed Chia Chen; "Doctor, do please walk in at once to see our son's wife, for I look up, with full reliance, to your lofty intelligence to dispel my solicitude!"
Chia Jung forthwith walked in with him. When they reached the inner apartment, and he caught sight of Mrs. Ch'in, he turned round and asked Chia Jung, "This is your honourable spouse, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is," assented Chia Jung; "but please, Doctor, take a seat, and let me tell you the symptoms of my humble wife's ailment, before her pulse be felt. Will this do?"
"My mean idea is," remarked the Doctor, "that it would, after all, be better that I should begin by feeling her pulse, before I ask you to inform me what the source of the ailment is. This is the first visit I pay to your honourable mansion; besides, I possess no knowledge of anything; but as our worthy Mr. Feng would insist upon my coming over to see you, I had in consequence no alternative but to come. After I have now made a diagnosis, you can judge whether what I say is right or not, before you explain to me the phases of the complaint during the last few days, and we can deliberate together upon some prescription; as to the suitableness or unsuitableness of which your honourable father will then have to decide, and what is necessary will have been done."
"Doctor," rejoined Chia Jung, "you are indeed eminently clear sighted; all I regret at present is that we have met so late! But please, Doctor, diagnose the state of the pulse, so as to find out whether there be hope of a cure or not; if a cure can be effected, it will be the means of allaying the solicitude of my father and mother."
The married women attached to that menage forthwith presented a pillow; and as it was being put down for Mrs. Ch'in to rest her arm on, they raised the lower part of her sleeve so as to leave her wrist exposed. The Doctor thereupon put out his hand and pressed it on the pulse of the right hand. Regulating his breath (to the pulsation) so as to be able to count the beatings, he with due care and minuteness felt the action for a considerable time, when, substituting the left hand, he again went through the same operation.
"Let us go and sit outside," he suggested, after he had concluded feeling her pulses. Chia Jung readily adjourned, in company with the Doctor, to the outer apartment, where they seated themselves on the stove-couch. A matron having served tea; "Please take a cup of tea, doctor," Chia Jung observed. When tea was over, "Judging," he inquired, "Doctor, from the present action of the pulses, is there any remedy or not?"
"The action of the pulse, under the forefinger, on the left hand of your honorable spouse," proceeded the Doctor, "is deep and agitated; the left hand pulse, under the second finger, is deep and faint. The pulse, under the forefinger, of the right hand, is gentle and lacks vitality. The right hand pulse, under my second finger, is superficial, and has lost all energy. The deep and agitated beating of the forepulse of the left hand arises from the febrile state, due to the weak action of the heart. The deep and delicate condition of the second part of the pulse of the left wrist, emanates from the sluggishness of the liver, and the scarcity of the blood in that organ. The action of the forefinger pulse, of the right wrist, is faint and lacks strength, as the breathing of the lungs is too weak. The second finger pulse of the right wrist is superficial and devoid of vigour, as the spleen must be affected injuriously by the liver. The weak action of the heart, and its febrile state, should be the natural causes which conduce to the present irregularity in the catamenia, and insomnia at night; the poverty of blood in the liver, and the sluggish condition of that organ must necessarily produce pain in the ribs; while the overdue of the catamenia, the cardiac fever, and debility of the respiration of the lungs, should occasion frequent giddiness in the head, and swimming of the eyes, the certain recurrence of perspiration between the periods of 3 to 5 and 5 to 7, and the sensation of being seated on board ship. The obstruction of the spleen by the liver should naturally create distaste for liquid or food, debility of the vital energies and prostration of the four limbs. From my diagnosis of these pulses, there should exist these various symptoms, before (the pulses and the symptoms can be said) to harmonise. But should perchance (any doctor maintain) that this state of the pulses imports a felicitous event, your servant will not presume to give an ear to such an opinion!"
A matron, who was attached as a personal attendant (to Mrs. Ch'in,) and who happened to be standing by interposed: "How could it be otherwise?" she ventured. "In real truth, Doctor, you speak like a supernatural being, and there's verily no need for us to say anything! We have now, ready at hand, in our household, a good number of medical gentlemen, who are in attendance upon her, but none of these are proficient enough to speak in this positive manner. Some there are who say that it's a genital complaint; others maintain that it's an organic disease. This doctor explains that there is no danger: while another, again, holds that there's fear of a crisis either before or after the winter solstice; but there is, in one word, nothing certain said by them. May it please you, sir, now to favour us with your clear directions."
"This complaint of your lady's," observed the Doctor, "has certainly been neglected by the whole number of doctors; for had a treatment with certain medicines been initiated at the time of the first occurrence of her habitual sickness, I cannot but opine that, by this time, a perfect cure would have been effected. But seeing that the organic complaint has now been, through neglect, allowed to reach this phase, this calamity was, in truth, inevitable. My ideas are that this illness stands, as yet, a certain chance of recovery, (three chances out of ten); but we will see how she gets on, after she has had these medicines of mine. Should they prove productive of sleep at night, then there will be added furthermore two more chances in the grip of our hands. From my diagnosis, your lady is a person, gifted with a preeminently excellent, and intelligent disposition; but an excessive degree of intelligence is the cause of frequent contrarieties; and frequent contrarieties give origin to an excessive amount of anxious cares. This illness arises from the injury done, by worrying and fretting, to the spleen, and from the inordinate vigour of the liver; hence it is that the relief cannot come at the proper time and season. Has not your lady, may I ask, heretofore at the period of the catamenia, suffered, if indeed not from anaemia, then necessarily from plethora? Am I right in assuming this or not?"
"To be sure she did," replied the matron; "but she has never been subject to anaemia, but to a plethora, varying from either two to three days, and extending, with much irregularity, to even ten days."
"Quite so!" observed the Doctor, after hearing what she had to say, "and this is the source of this organic illness! Had it in past days been treated with such medicine as could strengthen the heart, and improve the respiration, would it have reached this stage? This has now overtly made itself manifest in an ailment originating from the paucity of water and the vigour of fire; but let me make use of some medicines, and we'll see how she gets on!"
There and then he set to work and wrote a prescription, which he handed to Chia Jung, the purpose of which was: Decoction for the improvement of respiration, the betterment of the blood, and the restoration of the spleen. Ginseng, Atractylodes Lancea; Yunnan root; Prepared Ti root; Aralia edulis; Peony roots; Levisticum from Sze Ch'uan; Sophora tormentosa; Cyperus rotundus, prepared with rice; Gentian, soaked in vinegar; Huai Shan Yao root; Real "O" glue; Carydalis Ambigua; and Dried liquorice. Seven Fukien lotus seeds, (the cores of which should be extracted,) and two large zizyphi to be used as a preparative.
"What exalted intelligence!" Chia Jung, after perusing it, exclaimed. "But I would also ask you, Doctor, to be good enough to tell me whether this illness will, in the long run, endanger her life or not?"
The Doctor smiled. "You, sir, who are endowed with most eminent intelligence (are certain to know) that when a human illness has reached this phase, it is not a derangement of a day or of a single night; but after these medicines have been taken, we shall also have to watch the effect of the treatment! My humble opinion is that, as far as the winter of this year goes, there is no fear; in fact, after the spring equinox, I entertain hopes of a complete cure."
Chia Jung was likewise a person with all his wits about him, so that he did not press any further minute questions.
Chia Jung forthwith escorted the Doctor and saw him off, and taking the prescription and the diagnosis, he handed them both to Chia Chen for his perusal, and in like manner recounted to Chia Chen and Mrs. Yu all that had been said on the subject.
"The other doctors have hitherto not expressed any opinions as positive as this one has done," observed Mrs. Yu, addressing herself to Chia Chen, "so that the medicines to be used are, I think, surely the right ones!"
"He really isn't a man," rejoined Chia Chen, "accustomed to give much of his time to the practice of medicine, in order to earn rice for his support: and it's Feng Tzu-ying, who is so friendly with us, who is mainly to be thanked for succeeding, after ever so much trouble, in inducing him to come. But now that we have this man, the illness of our son's wife may, there is no saying, stand a chance of being cured. But on that prescription of his there is ginseng mentioned, so you had better make use of that catty of good quality which was bought the other day."
Chia Jung listened until the conversation came to a close, after which he left the room, and bade a servant go and buy the medicines, in order that they should be prepared and administered to Mrs. Ch'in.
What was the state of Mrs. Ch'in's illness, after she partook of these medicines, we do not know; but, reader, listen to the explanation given in the chapter which follows.
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